FEDERAL RESPONSE TO CHANGING PROGRAM PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT NEEDS

Robert GarciaRegional Administration, Region IX Office

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

August 20, 2014 National Association for Program Information

and Performance Management Annual Conference

What is the Administration for Children & Families?

The Administration for Children & Families (ACF) is the primary human services division within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). www.acf.hhs.gov Annual budget of over $51B, 2nd largest agency after

CMS. We promote the economic and social well-

being of families, children, individuals and communities. Major programs: Head Start, Child Care, Temporary

Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child Support Enforcement, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Refugee programs (UAC) and Child Welfare programs (Foster Care etc).

Provide grants to states, local governments, non-profit groups, faith and community-based organizations, Tribes, and Native American Communities.

What is GPRMA? Update to the Government Performance and

Results Act (GPRA) – GPRA Modernization Act of 2010

Requires the following: Requires OMB to develop federal government

Priority Goals Requires Agencies (e.g. HHS) to support federal

priorities and report progress quarterly Put cross-cutting results online (see

performance.gov) Hold senior leaders accountable for results,

including creation of Agency Performance Improvement Officer role

Reduce unused or outdated reporting by 10% the first year

HHS Priority Goals (FY 2014-2015 cycle)

Improve health care through meaningful use of health information technology.

Improve patient safety. Improve the quality of early childhood

education. (ACF is lead) Reduce combustible tobacco use. Reduce foodborne illness in the

population.

Basic Priority Goal Process

Collaboration spearheaded by new leadership position – Deputy Assistant Secretary and Inter-Departmental Liaison for Early Childhood Development (currently Linda Smith)

Quarterly public reporting on key measures and milestones (see www.performance.gov)

Bi-annual face-to-face meetings with HHS senior leadership and program leadership

Ongoing and regular collaboration (Child Care, Head Start, Dept. of ED) to move forward to goal achievement

Opportunity to educate top leaders about specific programs/activities and work across Departments

“Improve the quality of early childhood education.”

ACF Strategic Initiatives Plan

Updated annually (“living plan”) Cascades from the HHS Strategic Plan to

create a full continuum of accountability mechanisms

Articulates ACF priorities, strategies, and program-specific objectives

www.acf.hhs.gov/about/strategic-plan

ACF Program Performance Data

Funding opportunity announcements more detailed in terms of reporting requirements: Outcomes expected Program performance evaluation plan Performance Progress Reports (PPRs)

Ensures all grantees meet a certain minimum standard of performance with standardized set of data to monitor and manage programs Internal management measures vs. external

GPRA measures for Congress (included in budget request)

Ongoing Challenges

Large variation across states in terms of resources, capacity, data quality, etc.

Large variation across states in terms of program administration (e.g. Block Grants) making it difficult to aggregate outcome data

Program silos Federal priorities are not necessarily the same as

state priorities Turnover in key positions Maintaining the momentum

Lessons Learned

Creating a shared short-term ‘measurable’ set of goals can:

Improve communication and collaboration Increase innovation Enhance existing relationships/collaborations Better/creative use of resources Improve value to American Public

Questions?

Robert Garcia, Regional AdministratorACF Region IX90 7th Street, 9th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94103Robert. Garcia@acf.hhs.gov (415) 437-8439